On April 28, the Virginia Supreme Court issued a one-sentence ruling in Koski v Republican National Committee, one of the cases over Virginia’s new U.S. House districts. It denies the state’s request for a stay of the lower court ruling. For now, the state can’t certify the election returns from the election earlier this month. See this story.
North Dakota Representative Liz Conmy (D-Fargo) was killed in a plane crash on April 25. She was running for re-election in the June primary. It is too late to remove her name from the ballot, but it is expected that write-in candidates will file in the primary. See this story.
On Tuesday, April 28, Pomona College will host a California gubernatorial debate. All candidates who have been at 1% in the polls and who are on the ballot are invited. See this story. Eight candidates will debate. Butch Ware, the Green candidate, had been at 2% in several polls, but he is not included because he is not on the ballot, even though he will be a declared write-in candidate.
On April 27, Butch Ware, the Green Party candidate for Governor of California, filed a federal lawsuit against the California law that requires gubernatorial candidates to furnish the last five years of their income tax returns. The Complaint also charges that the law was enforced in a discriminatory manner this year. Ware v Weber, e.d., 2:26cv-1643. The case is assigned to U.S. District Court Magistrate Sean C. Riordan. Here is the Complaint.
UPDATE: the Magisrate has asked that the case be assigned to a U.S. District Court Judge, and it has been reassigned to U.S. District Court Judge William B. Shubb, a Bush Sr. appointee.
On April 27, the Virginia Supreme Court heard oral argument in Scott v McDougle, 260127. This is the lawsuit that originated in Tazewell County. The lower court had ruled that the new districts approved by the voters are illegal and void. The hearing lasted one hour. Two justices seemed critical of the new districts, but the other justices said very little. See this story.
